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Singas proposes center to aid domestic violence victims

June 1, 2015

Newsday

By:

Laura Figueroa

Acting Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas Monday proposed a family legal center in Mineola to connect domestic violence victims with social service programs.

Singas, who is running as a Democrat for district attorney against Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, unveiled her plans Monday in a news release, saying the center would be modeled on similar initiatives in New York City and Westchester County.

Under the proposal, a coalition of nonprofits and county law enforcement agencies would move into offices at 400 County Seat Dr. to provide a "one-stop shop" of services for domestic violence victims near the county's various courthouses, Singas said. The site is occupied by the Nassau County Matrimonial Center, which is set to relocate to a renovated Nassau Family Court building in 2017.

"No victim of a crime should have to miss out on the services they need because government failed to coordinate resources, and that's why I've made the creation of Long Island's first Family Justice Center a priority," Singas said.

Republican County Executive Edward Mangano said in a statement he backed "creation of a comprehensive one-stop shop." He said it was "critical for domestic violence victims to receive assistance and obtain other resources they need to get help."

Murray campaign spokesman Bill Corbett Jr. said "from the initial description of the proposal for the 'Family Justice Center,' she [Murray] believes that it sounds like a step in the right direction." Corbett said Murray has made domestic violence prevention a "priority" issue for her campaign, noting that she served as a victim advocate in 1988 as part of the Suffolk University Battered Women's Advocacy Project.

"With her experience, she understands the many complexities inherent in domestic violence situations and the ways to best protect victims," Corbett said of Murray.

Singas, who became acting district attorney in January after her predecessor, Kathleen Rice, was elected to Congress, said she did not have a cost estimate for the project.